How simple do you think it would be to convert a Hijet Van, into a Hijet pickup?

I still have the van, but the body is rusting (as it was when I first got it).now I was thinking about cutting the body off, just behind the cab, and sealing the cab up.

then fitting a different engine (a diesel) and the corresponding gearbox to the hijet.perhaps a ford transit 2.5 diesel and gearbox, o

the radiator would also be moved to behind the cab.

the reason is, I might need a cheap economical diesel for high mileage commuting.

now I did consider getting a Hijet 1.2 diesel if it uses the same gearbox as the 993cc 3 cylinder petrol engine.but I have heard they arent very reliable and need a new head gasket every 20~25 thousand miles (which would mean a new gasket once a year minimum )

so really I want a reliable IDI diesel in the hijet, so I can run it on SVO/WVO as well....

Hi unlike your landrover you can't just cut the body off as it is structural (and therefore would require a SVA test) the pick up chassis is different and chucking any body on a landy chassis is just a body change.

Hi although its got chassis rails the body is welded on so is a monocoque chassis I think the rails are the same on the pick up but there are extra bits to tie it all together without looking in the manual I can't remember if it's anymore than that but they do show a different chassis pic and the engine is in a different place.

with a land rover because it is a chassis and body you can do what you like body wise even go without and so long as it doesn't infringe any construction and use legislation you are fine without a SVA as the body has no strength as far as the chassis is concerned but a monocoque does if you just cut the roof off you loose something like 60% of chassis rigidity but if you cut the body off a Hijet and attach it to a landrover chassis then you can mod it any way you like and to any look.

There is no reason why you cannot chop down a van into some form of pickup as long as you put it in for an SVA, it will get an age related plate too as it will score enough points to stay away from a Q plate.

The above comments are correct, although the van has a ladder chassis, because the body shell is welded to the chassis, it is classed as a monocoque by VOSA.

Don't be put off, the SVA isn't as bad as many say. As long as you build to the spec required and use all the right E marked light clusters etc you'll pass. The testers are friendly and genuine auto enthusiasts.

HighlyJetted wrote:There is no reason why you cannot chop down a van into some form of pickup as long as you put it in for an SVA, it will get an age related plate too as it will score enough points to stay away from a Q plate.

The above comments are correct, although the van has a ladder chassis, because the body shell is welded to the chassis, it is classed as a monocoque by VOSA.

Don't be put off, the SVA isn't as bad as many say. As long as you build to the spec required and use all the right E marked light clusters etc you'll pass. The testers are friendly and genuine auto enthusiasts.

interesting to know.....

doesnt really matter any more though.....the van is a scrapper....just selling some of the parts off :p